INJURY-hit Town headed for Queens Park Rangers this morning with three members of today's squad already aware that their services will not be required next season.

Bart Griemink, Jon Stevenson and Ben Martin have all been told they are free to find other clubs as Andy King starts to plan for the 2004-5 campaign.

As exclusively revealed in Wednesday's Evening Advertiser, the Town boss wants to bring in five new faces and the likelihood is that existing players will need to leave in order to free up funds.

King said: "I can't afford two goalkeepers at first team level.

"Bart and Rhys Evans both fit into that category. Bart would get in most, if not all other teams in Division Two.

"I now have to find a young keeper to challenge Rhys Evans, who not only threatened Bart's position but seized his mantle.

"As for Bart, it hurt me. In all honesty though I don't think Bart would want to be here anyway if I couldn't guarantee him a first team place.

"That's all credit to Bart's professionalism. It's sad and I told him that he'd done everything I'd ever asked of him."

While Griemink (main picture) has clocked up more than 100 appearances in four years at the County Ground, the other two players heading for the exit have struggled to make an impact.

King said: "Young Jon Stevenson probably hasn't had the opportunities that he would have wanted.

"He's been a lovely kid to have around the place but when I brought Rory Fallon in I think that made a statement about how I feel is the way to get out of this division, through size, strength and power.

"As for Ben Martin, he came from the non-League and was given a year to see if he could progress.

"However, he hasn't been able to threaten sufficiently in terms of a first team place and has also had to see young Sean O'Hanlon come in and do fantastically well.

"It's nothing negative against Ben. He's done well.

"I just feel in his case, and also with Stevenson, that they'll benefit by going elsewhere to learn their trade."

As for today's crucial clash, King will be forced into several changes.

Neither Matt Heywood or Tommy Mooney trained yesterday after picking up knocks in the week.

King said: "There would have been changes anyway after such a poor performance, but there are injury problems."

Despite that, the Town boss feels his side can claim at least the single point they need to secure a play-off spot.

He is adamant, though, that there is no question of setting the stall out for just a draw.

King said: "I don't think the team has got it in its make-up to think that way.

"My philosophy is that if we score first, they won't beat us.

"All I'll say to my players is to get out there and show me the same determination and desire to succeed that I've got.

"We will have to be at full throttle or we'll get walked over.

"It has been a fantastic season, it just needs finishing off."